Andrea Hurtado
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THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE

2/28/2015

1 Comment

 
AUTONOMY is the key ingredient for motivation, creativity, and innovation. In the IA, we are inspired to be the DRIVERS of our own learning because we are given autonomy. When we work on projects, there are certain expectations regarding what we have to cover, but overall we are privileged with the F R E E D O M of CHOICE. We have to the power to tune around projects, ideas, and roles if we have a different perception or approach. There are no restrictions to where your creativity can go.
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Back in the first semester of IA, we did a FINANCE UNIT. The task was to CHOOSE and present one company that was socially responsible. Apart from those limitations, everything else was up to us. At first I couldn't believe the amount AUTONOMY we were given, before we were used to following a rubric in order to succeed; however, here, our creativity and passion were the tools that would lead us to succeed.  It was hard not to follow any rules. I decided to chose a company that was good with its employees. As I was researching, I decided to pick STARBUCKS, because I loved the work they were producing and how good they were with their employees. I must admit, I am not a finance or math person; therefore, if I would've been forced to research a given company I would've hated this project. However, since we were given LIBERTY to explore any company we were passionate about I ended up craving to learn more about finance and thinking this could possibly be a good career. I was motivated to work; I even remember getting back from school and discussing about stocks and finance with my father. Giving me the FREEDOM of choice payed off, and the SBUX stock was chosen to be part of our investment. The autonomy that was given to us triggered my motivation, my interest, and even my passion for finance, which I didn't even knew it existed. I had no threatening boundaries and this helped me succeed. 
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Through the IA I've been able to realize that            A U T O N O M Y is not only important in school, but also in the work place. Many companies reserve the rights of decision to those standing on the top, ONLY. However, by only giving the power of AUTONOMY to the top, you are murdering INNOVATION in your company. Rules, structures, and control stagnate creativity. When the brain is trained to follow guidelines, it automatically shrinks its creative and imagination side. Employees are no longer capable of thinking of a different approach by themselves, unless an order is given. The more freedom we give to the brain, the more creative it will become, and the further the imagination will travel. If we want INNOVATION, we want CREATIVITY, and especially we want AUTONOMY. 
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Giving AUTONOMY can lead to fantastic things, but it's a challenge to manage it wisely. In the IA I have been given some freedom of choice in every project, but IBG is all about autonomy, there is absolutely NO RULES. Yes it's cool, yes it's a privilege, and yes it's unique, but I've had a hard time deciding what I want to do in that time. I feel S C A T T E R E D. I keep rethinking this over my head because I've never been given such autonomy; therefore, my brain hasn't been trained to think so OUT of the LINES. Thus, the challenge for me this weekend is to think deeply of how I can take advantage of that autonomy to follow my passion, to grow, and create beautiful work. 

''IF YOU DON'T IMAGINE, NOTHING EVER HAPPENS"
-JOHN GREEN

1 Comment
Corey Topf
3/3/2015 05:15:18 am

Drew! You hit the nail on the head here: "Rules, structures, and control stagnate creativity. When the brain is trained to follow guidelines, it automatically shrinks its creative and imagination side. Employees are no longer capable of thinking of a different approach by themselves, unless an order is given. The more freedom we give to the brain, the more creative it will become, and the further the imagination will travel. If we want INNOVATION, we want CREATIVITY, and especially we want AUTONOMY."

The truth is, we're always learning. If we're told what to do, we learn to be obedient, to shy away from risks, and to think that we aren't good enough to create things on our own. However, when we're given autonomy, we learn self-discipline, we learn to be responsible for our own learning, and we learn that we can have an impact. Is it a struggle at times? Of course! But will you learn far more about who you are and what's important to you? Definitely!

I loved reading this!

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